LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 10: LeBron James #23 and Lance Stephenson #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate after James made a shot against the Golden State Warriors and was fouled during their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on October 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 10: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket against JaVale McGee #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers during their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on October 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 10: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors shoots against LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on October 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 10: Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors is fouled as he drives to the basket against Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on October 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 10: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors dunks against the Los Angeles Lakers during their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena on October 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma, left, and Lonzo Ball smile on the court during Wednesday’s preseason game against the Golden State Warriors at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Ball had sat out the Lakers’ first four preseason games. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Lakers forward LeBron James cradles the ball after a play during the first half of Wednesday’s preseason victory over the Golden State Warriors in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 10: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors attends a shootaround ahead of the team’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers at T-Mobile Arena on October 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to members of the media after a shootaround ahead of the team’s preseason game against the Golden State Warriors at T-Mobile Arena on October 10, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS — After hitting the latest in a career of impossible shots, LeBron James did not move. Around him, his teammates, the T-Mobile Arena crowd and the noise all swelled, enveloping him in fanfare uncommon for preseason games.

He had just sunk a buzzer-beater from midcourt near the sideline, and then simply posed after the shot which gave the Lakers the 61-57 halftime lead. In the second quarter alone, that had been preceded by a James flex after a layup, and a curt nod to the Warriors’ defense running back on defense after a drive inside.

“I thought it was going in,” said Lonzo Ball, who watched James’ dramatic shot from the court. “He set his feet, and obviously that’s his range. He shot it like it was a free throw.

“You know,” he added with a shrug, “LeBron James.”

That the Lakers went on to win 123-113 was hardly the point.

In the dynasty era of the Warriors, the Lakers have been a non-existent player. Even when the franchise hired away Golden State’s top assistant, the infrequency of competitive games dampened any potential for an in-state rivalry between the now back-to-back champions and the NBA’s most high-profile team.

But even though few NBA observers believe these Lakers (as currently composed) can truly contend against the Warriors, Wednesday served as a reminder that, with James on the roster, the matchups at least could be compelling. Apparently, the NBA thinks so as well, scheduling Lakers-Warriors for high-profile nationally televised games on Christmas and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The sneak preview was a fun exercise for the Lakers-friendly crowd in Vegas.

While James poked fun at a reporter earlier in the day for asking him to compare the NBA Finals to the preseason matchup, he also showed that the Warriors continue to bring something special out in him. In just under 18 minutes, he managed 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

None of it counted, of course. But it seemed to portend at least a chance that the Lakers (1-4) could end their seven-game losing streak to the Warriors sometime this season.

When James made the buzzer-beater, he said his only thought was “end the half the right way.”

“The crowd, they showed up tonight,” he said of the atmosphere. “They love the Lakers, they love the Warriors. And they showed appreciation for the game tonight. That was my appreciation for them.”

The game also marked the preseason debut for Ball, who sat out the previous four contests as a precaution following offseason knee surgery.

Ball took some time to adjust, dishing out two turnovers to teammates who weren’t expecting his passes then missing the rim on his first shot in the first quarter. But the second-year point guard gained steam as the game drew on: A dunk off an alley-oop from James in the second quarter helped allay concerns about his knee while showing on-court chemistry with his best new teammate.

Ball’s command also helped the Lakers stay competitive in the second half as James sat out, yet as the Warriors continued to rotate in Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. He also played well with Rajon Rondo, who is considered a competitor for the starting role Ball enjoyed last season.

For the evening, Ball finished with seven points (3-for-5 shooting), two assists and four steals in just more than 23 minutes.

“First quarter, I was a little winded,” Ball said. “After that, it was all good.”

One of the helpful factors for the Lakers was foul calls, something that has bedeviled them throughout the preseason. The biggest beneficiary was Brandon Ingram, who was 15 for 17 from the free-throw line as a part of his 26 points on the night. The Warriors were continually frustrated by the officials, and Durant (18 points, 12 rebounds) fouled out midway through the third quarter. The Warriors finished with 38 fouls called against them, leading to 46 Laker free-throw attempts.

Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope combined for 42 points for the Lakers, while Curry led the Warriors with 23 points. Walton said what pleased him most was the pace the Lakers played with while totaling just 19 turnovers.

“It showed what we’re capable of as a team if we run as a team,” Walton said. “It didn’t matter who we were throwing the ball out ahead to, we were attacking and putting pressure on their defense.”

For the first time in the preseason, the team looked reasonably whole.

Lonzo Ball talks about his first preseason action, his conditioning, his health and connecting on the alley oop with LeBron. pic.twitter.com/bzoFy8LrEH